If all goes well, both players could have a monster series. With Manu Ginobili down for the count, they almost have to if the Spurs are going to prevail.

The Mavericks, more than any other team, like to take their chances with Duncan one-on-one in the post. In the 2006 playoffs, he made them pay — averaging 32.2 points and 11.7 rebounds on a foot allegedly suffering from plantar fasciitis in the seven-game series.

The Mavs are under new leadership now, but their modus operandi in dealing with Duncan remained the same during the regular season. If he can take advantage of the looks he’s likely to get, he could put up big numbers again.

Of course, much will depend on Duncan’s knees, which have been bothering him off and on since February. He got some good rest down the stretch of the regular season, and — in a most promising sign for Spurs fans — shifted to another gear in overtime against New Orleans in the season finale.

It wasn’t that long ago that Parker said his bigger teammate was “playing on one leg.” Duncan seems to have gotten a leg up since then.

“It’s just a lot of rest,” Duncan said. “It worked out at the end of the season that I got a good schedule going within a five- or six-day period. You have to give Pop a lot of credit in that respect. I didn’t do a whole lot in that stretch, and I was able to get my legs back.”

Parker, meanwhile, has been the Spurs’ best player for most of the season, setting career marks in scoring (22.2 points per game) and assists (6.9 per game). He should have no problem scooting past a game-but-aging Jason Kidd, and once he gets to the rim, Dallas doesn’t have much of a shot-blocker to meet him.

I start Thomas to hound Nowinski and Bowen/Udoka bigger minutes to hound Josh Howard and Jason Terry. If Finley and Bonner get too much time guarding Terry and Nowinski, we don’t do so good in my opinion.

Micheal Finley will be a factor as well as Big Shot Roger and I see Matt Bonner sneaking in a 20 point game in the mix, as a team we need to slow down Josh Howard and make Dirk dribble not shoot, Spurs in six but this will be a physical series.. GO SPURS GO!!!!!